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AP PHOTOS: D-Day remembrance in Normandy

The Associated Press

Updated:
06/06/2014 02:54:10 PM EDT

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U.S. President Barack Obama, centre, and French President Francois Hollande, left, stand with veterans during the playing of Taps, at Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach as he participates in the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Colleville sur Mer, Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

A flag waves over Omaha Beach, one of the sites of the Allied soldier landings. Veterans of World War II place crosses and flags on the graves of the fallen. World leaders gather in France to pay tribute to the thousands who gave their lives in the invasion on June 6, 1944.

On Friday, a sun-splattered Normandy celebrated peace, with silent salutes, tears and international friendship marking 70 years since the D-Day invasion helped change the course of the war and modern history.

Here's a look at the commemorations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stands at right as U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and New Zealand's Governor-General Jerry Mateparae guide Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to her position for a group photo, with French President Francois Hollande, in the background, talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as they take part in commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Benouville in Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) (Charles Dharapak/AP)

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Australian World War II veterans place crosses and flags at graves before attending the French-British ceremony at the British War cemetery in Bayeux, Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. World leaders and veterans gathered by the beaches of Normandy on Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of World War Two's D-Day landings. (AP Photo/Leon Neal, pool) (Leon Neal/AP)

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, and French President Francois Hollande, right, smile next to World War II veteran Kenneth "Rock" Merritt as they arrive for the official lunch at Benouville castle, in Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. World leaders and veterans paid tribute on the 70th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day landings to soldiers who fell in the liberation of Europe from Nazi German rule, as host France sought to use the event to achieve a thaw in the Ukraine crisis. (Regis Duvignau, pool) (Regis Duvignau/AP)

A large screen shows a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and U.S. President Barack Obama during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day in Ouistreham, western France, Friday, June 6, 2014. World leaders and veterans gathered by the beaches of Normandy on Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of World War Two's D-Day landings. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool) (Christophe Ena/AP)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles whilst speaking to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, right, whilst watching a dramatic performance on Sword Beach during the Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings, in Ouistreham, France, Friday June 6, 2014. Some 19 world leaders, more than 1,000 veterans and many others gathered to honor the troops and civilians who fell in mighty battles that helped bring Europe peace and unity. (AP Photo / Joe Giddens, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (Joe Giddens/AP)

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